” October 16, 1895. ” SIR, Many thanks for your kind letter received this morning. I must say that in the first place I have a fibrous tumour in the womb, which I have had for years and at times suffered very much with.
” In May, 1887, I had a disease fall on my eyes (glaucoma), and was in the Royal West minister Ophthalmic Hospital, Chandos Street. There I had one eye operated upon, and had them bad for some time. Then they wanted to take the eye out, but I felt I could not have that done. I was then advised to go to the London Homoeopathic Hospital, which I did in June, and very thankful I am that I did, for after a time they got much better.
“About two years after, as an in-patient at the same hospital with the the other eye, I got better without any operation.
” Now as regards this last trouble. It was six weeks ago last Friday I had previously been feeling very unwell, not an unusual thing with me I was taken with intense pain in the pit of the stomach, seemed like being drawn up with cords, then shooting pains through my breasts and up under my arms, and through to my back, that lasted four hours; after that I was easy for about an hour or two, then they came on again about half-past eight and lasted till three o’clock; then I was sick and brought up a great deal that smelt very bad indeed; then I was two or three days and had another attack, then stopped a week; then another, and so on until last Sunday. Then I had one in the afternoon, and another in the evening, and another on Monday afternoon, and yesterday, one in the afternoon and another in evening; but yesterday I could not bring anything up to speak of. After the vomiting I get ease at once and am quite exhausted and can go to sleep directly. Then another thing is, I have had the most especially in the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet, and at times it seems quite unbearable; not anything to be seen, but the skin is very dry and hot.
” Another thing is the urine, which is very deep colour and very yellow.”
The letter goes on to express her conviction of its being necessary to go into hospital, and concludes by saying:
” I had a very restless and sleepless night last night, and am feeling sick this morning; very little appetite and almost afraid to take anything.”
However, instead of going into a hospital, all these pains so far lessened under treatment that on December 3, 1895, she was able to come up and see me, and then I found that she was suffering from an immense tumour, that by its weight alone was dragging her down fearfully, and which filled the entire upper pelvis and lower abdomen.
Her age was 58, and the change of life had taken place twelve years back, at which time she had begun to suffer; and it was then that the tumour was discovered, and was supposed to have existed much longer. Her present state is as follows:
Continual pain and weight in the pit of the chest, less in the morning; gets worse after taking food, has to loosen her clothes and lie down. The attacks of pain were more severe before taking my remedies, but now they hang about more; she has less sickness and consequently less relief from her distress. Scarcely ever gets a night’s rest; dreadful irritation all over the body hands and all worse at night. Warmth brings it on. Bowels acting.
The real treatment of the case may be said to have now begun. i explained to her the serious nature of her disease, and how very simple my treatment would be, did she elect to remain under me; that the only alternative was a serious operation, for which, as she was now in town, she could make arrangements, and that for myself I naturally advised a pursuance of the same treatment as had already been partly adopted, although her case would put medicinal treatment to the severest possible test. She elected to remain under me, and I began by giving Atropa Belladonna O A, with a prescription for Magnesia Carbonica CC. Two tablets every third hour if in pain.
December 20, 1895. Is very much better; for three days has not had sufficient pain to necessitate taking the tablets. Has been much on her feet lately, which has caused great bearing down. Nil.
January 27, 1896. Up to two weeks ago was better, but since then has had pain every day, and the tablets do not relieve as they did. Last Saturday had a very bad turn after dinner (early), which lasted till nine o’clock, and was very sick, and now irritation is as bad as ever. Last night slept the whole night through.
Sent Daphne Mezereum O A.
After this the irritation of the skin improved, but the pain returned and she was much troubled with flatus, for which treatment was given with more or less relief. On April 20 she still complained of great pain with retching, and sickness, and irritation of the skin, all the symptoms being worse after meals.
For this Cephaelis Ipecac. mother tincture A, was given, and it is no exaggeration to say that since then she has made an almost uninterrupted and a truly marvellous recovery.
I have heard but twice directly from her since April, but indirectly get constant reports. One of these times that she herself wrote was on May 25, 1896, and her letter runs thus:
” I heard from Mrs. D. the other day, and she told me that you thought I ought to write oftener to you; shy I do not is because I am careful not to trouble you more than I can possibly help and until I feel much worse. I feel better and am quite sure your treatment is doing me good; I am less in size and have the pain less, can eat better and not feel so sick. Is not all this very encouraging?”
The next occasion of her writing to me was on June 17, 1896, when she asked me for medicine as she had had some threatenings of pain.
A mutual friend writes under date January 23, 1897: ” I saw Mrs. A., who is better than she has been for years; has had hardly any pain for a month or more; she says it is wonderful, she is almost afraid of speaking of it.”
Here, then, is a case literally snatched from the knife of the surgeon; the patient is very thankful, but there the matter ends.
The patient above referred to has been seen by me, but once since, when she came, about a year ago, with a feeling of great bearing down in the pelvis. This was obviously due to the contracted tumour finding its way into the pelvic cavity. On this account I advised her to let matters drift, especially as her health was otherwise excellent, and a few weeks ago I received intelligence of her being in perfect health.
7 Mrs. A. livers, or lived until lately, at Horsham, and can verify every word of the above report.
Our hospitals could not exist of such patients were treated at home in this simple way, consequently such treatment does violence to existing interests.
